Will the end of the road for the jeepney, often called “The “King of the Road,” finally come at the end of 2023 when the PUV Modernization Program will finally enforce the phaseout of the old jeepney?

The program was rolled out in 2017 to replace jeepneys by 2020, but the date of the phase-out and consolidation was moved to 2021, to 2022, then again to the end of 2023.

JEEPNEYS PLY THE ROUTES AFTER THE TRANSPORT STRIKE ENDEE ON March 8, 2023. (Juan Carlo de Vela)

Meanwhile, the jeepney continues to ply its routes, still getting enough commuters along the way to make the trip a worthy livelihood to thousands. And its classic silhouette has now become an iconic symbol of Philippine culture, and popular souvenirs brought home by tourists.

But the transport strike organized by Manibela and PISTON that was planned to paralyze commuters for a week, started on March 6 and was resolved on March 8.

'NO TO JEEPNEY PHASEOUT' SAYS THE SIGN OF THIS JEEPNEY DRIVER. (Wendy Macabunga)

According to Manibela President Mar Valbuena, Malacañang has agreed to review the implementation of the modernization program.

But sometime sooner or later, the implementation of the phase-out will leave jeepney drivers literally at the crossroads of their livelihoods, and the only way to go on with that job is to upgrade to more modern jeepney units.

The modern jeepneys, though, are priced way above the purchasing power of the jeepney drivers, from P1.5 million to P2.2 million. The Land Bank of the Philippines has a financing program for the purchase of modern jeepneys, though, which offers a loanable amount of up to 95 percent of the price of the jeep, plus a six percent interest rate, and payable up to seven years.

The way to acquire a modern jeepney is for jeepney drivers to form cooperatives, a program that the government had campaigned for since the modernization program was introduced in 2017.
THE LONG ROAD TO MODERNIZATION

The jeepneys have gone a long way to reach this point of their journey. It started ferrying commuters in the 1950s when innovative Filipinos repurposed surplus American military jeeps from World War II, according to the Center for Philippine Studies of the University of Hawaii.

The earliest reconditioned jeepneys had a seating capacity of six passengers. But through the years that expanded to 12, to 16, and to 20 passengers as its length increased.

(Photo by Arnold Quizol)

However, these vehicles are nearing extinction after the PUV Modernization Program was first introduced in 2017 which would phaseout the old jeepneys and replace them with the modern jeepneys that would have an efficient engine and other features.

WHY THE NEED TO PHASE OUT JEEPNEYS

There are many factors that work against the traditional jeepney. First is efficiency: a modern jeepney can carry as many as 24, plus standing passengers, and is powered by a more fuel-efficient engine, air conditioning, and other safety features. The old jeepney can carry an average of 18 passengers, with a few extending its cabin to carry about 20 passengers, while it is powered by decades-old engines that pollute the air. Traditional jeepneys account for 15 percent of all the pollution coming from road vehicles, according to a report by The Economist in 2022.

NOW IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME

While the majority of drivers, operators, and passengers agree that the jeepney needs to be modernized to comply with environmental standards, they argue that now is not the best time to push the jeepney phaseout, especially after people are still recovering from the devastating effects of the pandemic.

(photo by ali vicoy)

158,000 JEEPNEYS

According to the LTFRB, there are around 158,000 jeepneys currently roaming nationwide, which accounts for 15 percent of all the pollution coming from road vehicles, according to a report by The Economist in 2022.

Pushing the deadline of the phaseout to the end of 2023 may provide temporary relief to the jeepney drivers and commuters. But as they say, the deadline will come and bring the iconic jeepney to its final destination. (Pancho Parian)